Parents in the Dayton, Ohio, metropolitan area rely on the hundreds of primary and secondary schools, colleges and universities, and educational programs to prepare their children for success. Through rigorous testing and evaluation, students will form themselves into educated and well-rounded young adults ready to further their academic strength in higher education or join one of the area's renowned companies.
Dedicated parents will be by their children's sides as they journey through public or private K-12 programs to achieve marks of success. They understand that if their student children are to become entrepreneurs, onboard at top-notch businesses, or work toward a four-year degree, each begins with earning a high school diploma. Yet, trekking through academic requirements and maintaining positive behavior in school can be challenging. For example, the following circumstances may inadvertently cause students to violate their good standing with their school or program.
- Breakdowns in social relationships
- Demanding extracurricular activities
- False misconduct allegations
- Family emergencies
- Illnesses or injuries
- Mental health challenges
- Schoolwork stress
Schools catering to any age group are moving toward zero-tolerance disciplinary policies nationwide. Obligations tied to funding streams and the work needed to uphold public reputations cause schools to act quickly, sometimes impulsively, when misconduct allegations arise. Therefore, students risk punishment from burdensome school disciplinary boards that may be unaware of a student's extenuating circumstances.
Parents must understand that school officials are not as forgiving as they are. Even when students need positive love and care to help them get back on track, they will not receive such treatment from disciplinary officials. The fast-paced grievance processes schools depend on for disciplinary action work differently than a court of law. Evidentiary standards, witness testimony guidelines, and the burden of proof may not be in the student's favor, even if allegations seem unfounded.
Disciplinary actions can impede a student's goals of furthering their education or obtaining a high-paying job. Fortunately, parents and their student children can partner with a proven professional. Parents need to understand that they can retain professional help when their child's goal of graduation is at risk. When going to college, entering the workforce, or joining a service program is threatened, there's no greater value than partnering with a proven professional.
Student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento has provided dependable guidance and representation for countless students in the Dayton metropolitan area. He and his team at the Lento Law Firm understand the harsh disciplinary tactics schools use to manage their standards on and off campus. As a parent, safeguard your child's future by contacting Joseph D. Lento when misconduct allegations arise. Keep the disciplinary process from affecting your student child's chance to graduate and begin a successful career.
Dayton Metropolitan Area
Spanning across Greene, Miami, and Montgomery counties in the western part of Ohio, the Dayton metropolitan area is home to over 800,000 residents. The region prides itself on its fast-growing aerospace, healthcare, and logistics sectors drawing more and more people to the Miami Valley.
The expanse features many confident, effective attorneys with years of practice arguing before judges and in front of juries. Parents of students in the thick of school disciplinary action may be convinced through clever advertising that only a powerful attorney with trial experience can obtain relief. However, it's a common mistake to believe that courtroom expertise is needed to alleviate the consequences of student misconduct allegations.
Lawyers, as such, seldom have the skills to settle a student's disciplinary issues outside formal hearings with school administrators or district officials. Sometimes, their aggressive tactics make the situation worse. Legal action shouldn't be the first approach to mitigating disciplinary action. You need someone with the finesse to get school officials to see positive solutions for all those involved.
Joseph D. Lento and his team have spent years building relationships with representatives in the Office of General Counsel (OGC) in numerous schools. He recognizes the difference between judicial proceedings and administrative disciplinary hearings conducted by schools and can safeguard your student child's rights and future opportunities. Joseph D. Lento is no stranger to brokering resolutions on behalf of students, nor is he to supporting students in the Dayton metropolitan area. They can deliver steadfast support to students in areas such as:
- Beavercreek
- Centerville
- Clayton
- Englewood
- Fairborn
- Huber Heights
- Kettering
- Miamisburg
- Piqua
- Riverside
- Springboro
- Trip City
- Trotwood
- Troy
- Vandalia
- Xenia
- West Carrollton
By retaining the help of Joseph D. Lento and his student defense team, parents can confer themselves to ensure their children are focused on academics and their goals while disciplinary negotiations are underway. Whether your elementary school-age child faces detention or they're a second-year medical student battling through remediation, the Lento Law Firm can help.
Dayton Metropolitan Area Schools
Regardless of a student's grade, program level, or degree concentration in the Dayton metropolitan area, they can get help with disciplinary action. Representation is available for students at the following colleges and universities:
- Air Force Institute of Technology
- Antioch College
- Cedarville University
- Central State University
- Hobart Institute of Welding Technology
- Kettering College of Medical Arts
- The Modern College of Design
- University of Dayton
- Wilberforce University
- Wittenberg University
- Wright State University
Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm's student defense team can also effectively defend students in K-12 programs in city and county public school districts across the Dayton metropolitan area, including but not limited to:
- Beavercreek High School
- Beavertown Elementary School
- Bellbrook Middle School
- Bellbrook High School
- Bethel High School
- Brookville High School
- Butler High School
- Carlisle High School
- Centerville High School
- Dixie High School
- Fairborn High School
- Harman Elementary School
- Herman K. Ankeney Middle School
- Indian Riffle Elementary School
- John F. Kennedy Elementary School
- Kettering Fairmont High School
- Main Elementary School
- Magsig Middle School
- Miamisburg High School
- Normandy Elementary School
- Northmont High School
- Oakwood Junior High School
- Oakwood High School
- Orchard Park Elementary School
- Prass Elementary School
- Smith Elementary School
- Springboro Junior High School
- Springboro High School
- Stebbins High School
- Tippecanoe High School
- Tower Heights Middle School
- Trebein Elementary School
- Troy High School
- Valley View High School
- Waynesville Middle School
- Waynesville High School
- Weller Elementary School
- West Carrollton High School
Students in private elementary and secondary schools across the Dayton metropolitan area can also retain the help of student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento and his team at the Lento Law Firm, including those attending:
- BASIS Independent
- Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School
- Dayton Christian School
- Dayton Early College Academy
- Dayton Regional STEM School
- Edison Schools
- Emerson Academy
- Imagine Woodbury Academy
- Montessori School of Centerville
- Mother Brunner Catholic School
- Richard Allen Schools
- Saint Luke Catholic School
- Salem Christian Academy
- Stivers School for the Arts
- Summit Academy Transition High School
- Temple Christian School
- The Miami Valley School
- Trotwood Preparatory and Fitness Academy
Disciplinary Defense in the Dayton Metropolitan Area
Every school has rules regulating academics, classroom behavior, computer networks, dining halls, extracurricular activities, scholarships, and even student relationships. Schools may categorize misconduct slightly differently by program or grade level, but there are three general types detailed in a school's code of conduct:
- Academic misconduct
- Non-academic misconduct
- Title IX and sexual misconduct
As mentioned above, schools and other educational institutions are under enormous pressure to maintain a pristine reputation in the public eye. Schools must also remain eligible for federal funding streams and accreditation. Thus, disciplinary boards will swiftly address and adjudicate misconduct allegations. Potential sanctions can harm your child's future, including interrupting class and computer misuse or plagiarism and truancy. Regardless of the issue, parents can expect that Lento and his team will defend their child through misconduct accusations in the following areas.
Academic Progression Issues
Institutions establish academic guidelines and how students must progress through a given program toward graduation. Most K-12 schools and higher education programs have policies defining satisfactory academic progress (SAP) and the consequences for failing to meet minimum requirements.
For instance, Wilberforce University states that its SAP policy includes minimum thresholds of the following:
- Course completion rate
- Cumulative grade point average
- Semester credit hours
- Timeframe allowed for graduation
Primary and secondary schools like Stebbins High School also require students to progress to the following grade or graduate with a diploma. They include course credit minimums, standardized test scores, core class grades, and sometimes community service requirements.
If a school's academic requirements aren't met—even during a single semester—students risk disciplinary action. Academic probation, remediation, suspension, and expulsion can derail a student's post-graduate prospects. Still, sometimes schools abuse their policies and fail to consider a student's situation when their academic performance suffers. Luckily, Joseph D. Lento can help your child defeat academic discipline and get them out of stressful disciplinary situations by walking them through the appeals process or negotiating with administration officials.
Academic Misconduct Issues
The basis of any excellent school or academic program is integrity. Central State University, Kettering College of Medical Arts, and Chaminade Julienne Catholic High School, among others, have policies addressing dishonesty in the classroom. These include but are not limited to the following:
- Bribery
- Cheating
- Collusion
- Computer and network misuse
- Duplicate submissions
- Failure to progress
- Misrepresentation
- Plagiarism
- Research misconduct
- Unauthorized collaboration
Deceit undermines instruction and the student learning process. While schools rightfully punish those who violate academic rules, disciplinary boards may launch investigations based on dubious information. Such situations can lead to unfair academic misconduct charges.
Students found responsible for academic misconduct face a tough road ahead. Since disciplinary action stays on a student's permanent record, it will hinder opportunities like enrolling in college, obtaining employment, and entering the military or civil service programs. To lessen the consequences that allegations will have on your reputation and future, consult with Joseph D. Lento and the Lento Law Firm to overcome academic misconduct allegations.
Non-Academic Misconduct Issues
Schools must also maintain an orderly learning environment free from unnecessary disruptions. While non-academic misconduct involving substance abuse or possessing weapons on campus will typically lead to suspension or expulsion, anything upsetting the process of the school day will be punished.
Educational institutions will have rules governing how students are to behave in class, what can and cannot be kept in lockers, behavior when participating in school-sponsored off-campus events, and others. However, students can even be punished for having the incorrect toaster or a fish bowl in their college dorm room. For example, Antioch College maintains policies prohibiting certain items and behaviors in all student housing and campus buildings. Students will violate the agreement they make the school upon enrolling if they:
- Alter dorm room amenities or structures
- Replace appliances or fixtures
- Fail to keep dorm room clean
- Have more than three people in a dorm room at one time
- Lose or damage dorm room keys
- Park in unauthorized spaces
- Play music during quiet hours
- Violate guest policies
Although students may be punished at any level of education for unnecessary disturbances or failing to maintain school property, school officials sometimes fail in their judgment of an action or circumstance. Unconventional actions or behaviors don't always need admonishment, especially when there may be a reasonable excuse or a complete misunderstanding. Therefore, it's essential to retain premier student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento to defend your child against non-academic misconduct allegations.
Title IX and Sexual Misconduct
Federal Title IX regulations require schools that receive federal funding to address sex and gender-based misconduct. Every K-12 school, college, and post-graduate program will have a Title IX coordinator on staff to supervise the federally-mandated grievance procedure and the investigative, hearing, and sanctioning phases.
Most schools will have very similar Title IX policies. Primary and secondary schools will have differing mechanisms for optional live hearings and involving parents or guardians in the process, but will address the same misconduct found in institutions of higher education. The Title IX policy for Wright State University explains that the following are violations:
- Bullying
- Coercion
- Dating/domestic violence
- Discrimination
- Harassment
- Hazing
- Intimidation
- Retaliation
- Sexual misconduct
- Solicitation
- Stalking
One of the most significant issues surrounding Title IX is that regulations are constantly changing with the prevailing political and cultural winds. Although parents may not have the time to keep up with adjustments in federal legislation, retaining Joseph D. Lento and the student defense team will give you peace of mind that your student child's rights will be protected during the process.
Student Defense Advisor Value Proposition
Parents may believe that an aggressive attorney is what they need to secure relief for their student child. Inexperienced lawyers may tell parents that lawsuits are the best plan of action, and although formal suits are a potential means to keep your child out of trouble, litigation is rarely necessary. As mentioned before, school disciplinary hearings differ from a court of law. Therefore, courtroom competency doesn't convert into an effective student defense strategy. The goal for students and their dedicated parents should be quick, negotiated, and stress-free relief from misconduct allegations, not expensive, drawn-out legal action.
Joseph D. Lento has handled student cases by brokering beneficial resolutions with members of a school's OGC on behalf of students and resolved matters outside formal hearings. His knowledge and experience help keep a student concentrating on their studies and lifts a considerable weight off parents' shoulders. Hiring student defense advisor Joseph D. Lento gives you and your student child a chance to fight back against school discipline. Call 888-535-3686 today, or visit the confidential online consultation form.
